All Quiet on the Western Front (the 1930 version) is based on the book of the same name, which was written by the German author Erich Maria Remarque.
The book is probably the most famous anti-war novel ever written. The story is told by a young ‘unknown soldier’ in the trenches of Flanders (which reminds me of this poem) during the First World War. Through his eyes we see all the realities of war; under fire, on patrol, waiting in the trenches, at home on leave, and in hospitals and dressing stations. Through the vividly described incidents of war, the feeling of youth betrayed and a deceptively simple indictment of war – of any war – is told for a whole generation of victims.
The movie remains pretty true to the book (from what I can remember of the book), and definitely does a great job in creating images that burn into your mind. I am sure that most of us would recognize scenes from the film without ever having seen the film itself. And while the film was a bit tough to sit through (it feels like a silent film, but with talking), it was quite remarkable to behold.
I kept reminding myself that the American public at the time the film was released (1930) had seen little of the war in Europe. So to see this film must have been horrifying. There is one particular scene where a man gets blown up and we see what remains of him hanging on a fence. Graphic, yes. Memorable, definitely. (Also keep in mind that the MPAA film ratings didn’t come along until 1968 – prior to that, movies were governed by the Hays Code.)
But this wasn’t really a film about the theories and strategies of war – it was a film about the psychology of war.
I am enjoying watching these early films – it’s certainly gives me different views on World War I.
Next up, a Western – Cimarron!
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